Villain’s Programming - Chapter 306



Only Noblemtl

Episode 306 Just Say Anything

Bang Se-ok was in the bathroom when she received Do-jun’s text.

‘Oh my. Have I been having too much fun lately? I have to think about my age now. My back hurts too.’

I must have drank too much these past few days, my back hurts and my stomach feels bad.

‘When I was young, I could drink as much as I wanted without getting sick, but these days, my stomach hurts the next day. And these days, even pooping doesn’t feel good. Could I have some kind of illness? It can’t be helped. Should I go to the hospital this afternoon?’

It was while Bang Se-ok was thinking about this in the bathroom that she got a text message. She wondered who it was and it was Hwang Do-jun.

‘Representative Hwang, I’m really turned on by the fact that you keep contacting me every day. But you’re not tactful. Shouldn’t you have figured it out by now? Do you want a lot from me? Why don’t we just go somewhere nice, drink together, and sing with a girl? Then you’re going to foolishly give it to me? Tsk tsk.’

Although GUARD CAT did decide to receive ‘bitcoins’ himself, that was a story for a long time later.

Bitcoin could only be received after the next government came into power and paid the money to Dojun.

‘If you’re a businessman, shouldn’t you at least give a taste of what’s possible? Mr. Hwang is not stupid, so he’ll understand soon.’

Bang Se-ok felt happy when she thought about what Do-jun would give her. Bang Se-ok read the text message Do-jun sent.

[Director, I have received intelligence that Lee Woon-cheol has decrypted the password for the file he hacked and took last time.]

At that moment, Bang Se-ok opened her eyes wide and groaned, “Gasp!” without realizing it.

‘What? Unlock the file? No!’

Bang Se-ok immediately called Do-jun.

“Representative Hwang.”

– Ah! Director. Hello.

“Yes. Hello… No, but more importantly, what does this mean? You decrypted the file?”

– Oh, I’m not saying it’s been solved, exactly. I was saying it’s highly likely that it will be solved.

“Is it possible to solve it? It would take 50 years to solve it?”

– You said you could solve it?

“Huh? That’s ridiculous! Where did you get that information? Did you contact North Korea?”

– No. How could I, a civilian, contact North Korea? I just heard some rumors about Lee Un-cheol from a friend who worked for the NSA at the GUARD CAT company I have.

Bang Se-ok thought of GUARD CAT. The company was currently sweeping up famous hackers and programmers from all over the world. It wouldn’t be strange if some of them had worked for the NSA.

“What did he… say?”

– They say Lee Yun-cheol is a genius at encryption programs. He is also good at deciphering passwords. They say that if he puts his mind to it and tries, he can solve most problems in a week.

Bang Se-ok swallowed dryly. A week would have been enough time to solve it.

“Of course, it’s been a few years since this guy left the NSA, so I don’t know the latest information. Isn’t it possible for someone like you, Director, to contact the NSA? Try asking them.”

– Yes, I understand. Thank you so much for giving me this important information.

Bang Se-ok hurriedly put on his clothes. Then he realized that he had done something wrong, but he hurriedly put on his pants.

As soon as Bang Se-ok entered his office, he contacted the NSA.

“Director Kiss, this is Bang Se-ok from the Korean National Intelligence Service.”

* * *

Do-jun laughed bitterly after hanging up the phone with Bang Se-ok.

‘Director Bang, you’re fucking me? Then I’ll give you some shit too.’

Do-jun immediately contacted NSA Director KISS.

Director Kiss said it was nice that Do-jun kept in touch with him often.

– Are you contacting me because of Lee Woon-chul this time?

“Yes. I have a favor to ask.”

– Please? That’s a good word. If it’s your request, I’ll do whatever it takes to grant it.

Dojun snickered. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you wanted help, you had to give it back.

‘If it’s something like helping the NSA, I’ll do it.’

Do-jun said to Director Kiss.

“Probably, I will hear from the Director of the National Intelligence Service of Korea soon.”

– The director of the National Intelligence Service? Why? I gave him everything he asked for.

“How did that happen… … .”

Do-jun told Director Kiss exactly what he had told Bang Se-ok.

– Haha. That’s a plausible story. Of course, an actual NSA agent wouldn’t say something like that, but the director of the NIS wouldn’t know that. So why did he say that?

“I’m also going to give them some candy. Well, I’m not trying to make the NIS do something wrong. Rather, I’m trying to normalize it.”

– You’re giving me candy, but you’re saying it’ll normalize it?

Do-jun said that the cyber agents of the National Intelligence Service are now posting ‘comments’ instead of working on overseas or North Korea-related matters.

– Oh my god. Dojun, are you kidding me?

“I wish I was joking, but it’s real. So, please tell the Director that his information is outdated, and tell the Director of the National Intelligence Service that if all the agents of the National Intelligence Service are stuck here, they might find out something.”

‘Comments’ were a way to manipulate public opinion, and that was one of Bang Se-ok’s greatest achievements.

‘Director Bang, let’s see what the higher-ups will do to you when those achievements disappear.’

– Okay. That shouldn’t be too difficult.

* * *

Bang Se-ok contacted the US NSA and asked to be connected to Director Keyes. However, Director Keyes was in a meeting, so he had to wait for a long time.

After about 30 minutes, Bang Se-ok asked Director Kiss about information about ‘Lee Woon-cheol’.

– Have you seen the information we sent you about Lee Yun-cheol? If you look there, you will see detailed information about Lee Yun-cheol. His specialty is definitely encryption programs.

Bang Se-ok felt like everything was going dark.

“Is there any other information?”

– Honestly, this information is from a few years ago, so it might be different now. I know that the National Intelligence Service is the best agency related to North Korea, so wouldn’t it be easy for the National Intelligence Service to find out what we found out?

Bang Se-ok clenched his fist.

‘All NIS agents should focus on North Korea-related work?’

Actually, that was normal, but not now. It was more important to sway public opinion than to get information.

“Thank you, Director. I have something urgent to do, so I’ll get back to you later.”

Bang Se-ok hung up the phone and thought about it for a moment.

‘There’s nothing we can do. Of course… they’ll be cussing out from above, but if that file comes out, both you and I will all die!’

Bang Se-ok immediately called the 2nd deputy director in charge of North Korea-related affairs and the 3rd deputy director who had the cyber unit.

“Report Lee Yun-cheol’s movements! Everyone since he was hacked!”

“Then what about the work you are doing now?”

“Everyone stop! Focus on this!”

“All right.”

At the director’s direction, the second and third deputy managers took action immediately. The report came out that evening.

‘After successfully hacking, I went to the Yalu River the next day. If I had done that, I would not have been able to decrypt the files.’

The files that Lee Yun-cheol took out contained not only his own corruption but also corruption that encompassed the political and financial worlds.

It covered everything from light-hearted adultery to in-depth information about drugs, rape, and murder.

And there was his information there too.

‘National Intelligence Service guys, why were you investigating things like this in the past?’

It was after the files were hacked and leaked that Bang Se-ok discovered that the files contained her information and looked into what they contained.

‘No. If North Korea finds out about this file, they will definitely use it.’

North Korea had no money. To North Korea, this file was like a lottery ticket.

This was because information about politicians’ corruption could be sold to competitors for money, and information about corruption in the business world could be blackmailed into extorting money.

‘And then… I’m going to die.’

It would have been better if only he had died. It was obvious that his wife and children would have a very difficult life.

Bang Se-ok put his left index finger in his mouth and bit it. It was a habit he had whenever he felt anxious.

‘We have to stop it, and quickly. But how do we stop it? How?’

Bang Se-ok, who was worried, suddenly thought of Hwang Do-jun.

‘He wanted information about Lee Yun-cheol. If I give him that information, is there anything he can do?’

Bang Se-ok immediately sent the ‘Lee Woon-cheol file’ to Do-jun and contacted him.

“Representative Hwang, I have a favor to ask.”

* * *

Dojun came home, washed up, and sat on the sofa.

‘Sally’s working overtime again today. She seems to be full of energy these days.’

The effects of the intermediate panacea were enormous. Sally’s mother Dorothy’s paralysis from the waist down was cured, and Sally became able to conceive.

Not only that. Sally had been getting younger and younger as time went on. She now looked like she was in her early twenties when I first met her.

Because of that, Dojun had to exert himself every night these days.

‘Ahem. That’s good, but you know.’

Sally in her 30s was pretty, but Sally in her younger days was even more radiant.

Dojun got up and stood in front of the mirror. A decent looking man in his thirties was in the mirror.

‘Not bad, but Sally and I seem to be quite a bit older. Should I take some intermediate panacea too?’

Dojun shook his head after thinking for a moment. It didn’t make sense to take this precious medicine just for looks.

‘Just exercise more and get regular skin massage treatments.’

Dojun sat down on the sofa again and turned on the TV.

[North Korea released a special statement from the government, political parties, and organizations through the Korean Central News Agency. Let’s watch the announcement together.]

[… From this moment on, North-South relations will enter a state of war, and accordingly, all issues raised between the South and the North will be handled in a wartime manner.]

Dojun, who had seen the news, felt frustrated and took a can of beer from the refrigerator and drank it.

“Wow. This is the taste I’m looking for.”

The beer was cold, but Do-jun was feeling suffocated. In his past life, he didn’t care what happened with North Korea, but not now.

‘I have to contact Lee Yun-cheol somehow, but what should I do if the relationship between the North and the South is like this?’

After drinking a can of beer, Do-jun looked for a way to contact North Korea. The method turned out to be easy.

‘Kaesong Industrial Complex. It hasn’t been closed yet?’

Dojun tried to figure out how to get in there.

‘It wouldn’t be difficult if we get help from the National Intelligence Service, right? But, when will Director Bang contact us?’

Do-jun contacted Bang Se-ok this afternoon. He sent a text message about Lee Woon-chul, and received a call back less than 5 seconds later.

‘I guess you’re really into tightrope walking.’

Bang Se-ok asked Do-jun to delete the ‘file in question’. In response, Do-jun said that he needed to contact ‘Lee Woon-cheol’ directly or find a way to access the North Korean network.

Bang Se-ok said she would look into it and contact me, but she just got a call.

Dojun pressed the call button and asked.

“Have you found a way?”

– Yes. I found it with difficulty. There is a way to meet Lee Woon-chul in person.

Do-jun was surprised to hear that there was a way to meet in person.

“How?”

– Our NIS agent in China recently caught North Korea trading with Chinese people on Weiliang Island. One of the people looked like Lee Yun-cheol.

Weliang Island (Weliangdao) was also well known to Dojun. This was because Li Yuncheol used the wireless network on that island to connect to the global network.

“Lee Yun-cheol met someone? Can you tell me why?”

– Yes. As you may have seen in the report, Lee Woon-chul has a son.

Do-jun knew that too. The report listed his family, including his wife who had passed away and a 10-year-old son.

“Why your son? Did you contact him to buy him food or a toy?”

– No. You don’t have to go all the way to China to buy that much. You can buy it in North Korea. If you have money, anything is possible in North Korea.

This was something that Dojun didn’t know about either.

“Oh, North Korea too… I see.”

– Yes, but there are some things you can’t buy in North Korea, especially medicine.

“Is it medicine?”

– Yes. There are basic things, but they are very poor. The latest medicines for treating specific diseases are unimaginable in North Korea. But, Lee Un-cheol needs this medicine. Lee Un-cheol’s son is sick.

Dojun’s eyes opened wide.

“Oh my goodness, you’re doing something so dangerous just to get medicine? Isn’t someone like Lee Un-cheol from the upper class in North Korea? No matter how hard it is to get medicine, you should be able to get it at that level.”

Do-jun didn’t know much about North Korea, but he knew that what Lee Un-cheol was doing was extremely dangerous.

– Normally, yes. But his son has leukemia. He paid a lot of money to the Chinese guy who contacted Lee Yun-cheol to find out why. There is no way there is a cure for leukemia in North Korea.

Bang Se-ok listened to the words of NSA Director Keys and focused all his agents on North Korea. Then, by chance, he found out about Lee Un-cheol’s work.

When Dojun heard that, everything made sense.

“Then, I guess I’ll have to wait until he contacts that… Chinese merchant again.”

– Yes, that’s right. First, our agent will contact him in North Korea. Then we’ll contact you again.

Do-jun let out a sigh of relief after hanging up the phone with Bang Se-ok.

‘I was thinking of going to North Korea to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, but things have become easier.’

Do-jun waited for Bang Se-ok to contact him again after that. However, a day passed, a week passed, and still there was no contact.

Then news about North Korea appeared again.

[North Korea declared that it would ban departure from the Kaesong Industrial Complex (departing from Seoul and entering the Kaesong Industrial Complex) and only allow entry (via Seoul), and locked the North Korean side door of the Gyeongui Line Inter-Korean Transit Office.]

The way to get to the Kaesong Industrial Complex had disappeared. And the day after that news came out, Bang Se-ok received a call.

– Mr. Hwang, we’re in big trouble.

“why?”

– Lee Yun-cheol… is not coming to China again.

“Why? Your son needs medicine.”

– I spoke to a Chinese merchant with whom I was dealing. He said that he had probably found another route to obtain the drug, or was in the process of doing so.

Dojun opened his eyes wide.

‘What? You found a way to get the medicine internally?’

Dojun tilted his head.

‘Why at this time of all times?’

Xi Jinping took office as president and relations between North and South Korea were at their worst. But at this point, Lee Un-cheol was opening a new ‘route.’

‘Could it be that China is making a move?’

I thought it was too fast, but since the Emperor Shi Huang AI was moving, I thought it couldn’t be impossible.

Dojun asked urgently.

“Then what should I do?”

– That’s… the method… … .

“No. You have to find a way somehow. Isn’t that file urgent?”

Bang Se-ok answered Do-jun’s words.

– I will try to find a way somehow. Mr. Hwang, if you have a good idea, please let me know. I will definitely do it, no matter what.

* * *

Dojun stayed up most of the night with his eyes wide open.

‘Is North Korea’s handover to China an unchangeable future?’

The problem did not end with North Korea simply turning to China.

In the lost dream, it was shown that numerous Chinese weapons were deployed along the 38th parallel. The target of these weapons was not North Korea, but South Korea.

“ha.”

As Dojun sighed, Han Jeong-su, who was next to him, asked.

“Sir, why are you sighing? Do you not like it here?”

Do-jun was in Sangam-dong, Gangbuk-gu. It was because Han Jeong-su had gone with him to look at the land where the ‘Children’s Hospital’ was to be built.

“No, it’s good. There’s an apartment complex nearby, and an elementary school right behind it. There’s also a stream over there.”

Han Jeong-su answered with a big smile.

“Yes. That’s why I decided to come here. Of course, it’s also because the land is cheaper than other places because it’s on the outskirts. However… … .”

Han Jeong-su said with a regretful expression, looking at the children’s hospital grounds.

“It would be nice if we could also live on the land next door… … .”

“Why? The landowner won’t sell it?”

“Because it’s national land. I asked about it once and they said no.”

“Ah! The country… … .”

Han Jeong-su said with a big smile.

“Well, it’s okay because the current site is huge. Thanks to Representative Hwang, we have some extra budget, so we’re thinking of using it to build another children’s hospital in another region.”

“Good!”

“Haha. I knew that Mr. Hwang would answer like that. Mr. Hwang, do you know what my dream is?”

When Dojun looked at Han Jeong-su’s face, Han Jeong-su continued speaking with a very excited expression.

“We are building three hospitals in Korea and one in Africa so that the world’s sick children can receive as much treatment as possible.”

“Africa? I don’t know about our country, but isn’t it difficult to build a hospital there? I think it would be difficult to find medical staff.”

“That’s true, but it’s okay if you do it through the Red Cross. There are Red Crosses everywhere in the world. Even in North Korea.”

At that moment, Dojun’s eyes widened.

‘Is there a Red Cross in North Korea?’

Dojun said he was going out for a bit and went into a nearby coffee shop.

Do-jun looked at the place where the children’s hospital was to be built and the empty lots nearby and called Bang Se-ok.

“Director, I found a way.”

– Did you find a way?

“Yes. However… we need a lot of help from the country.”

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